Labor, Lyft, Uber, independent contractors

by Derek Major

January 10, 2024

Labor Department Enacts New Rule Preventing Misclassification Of Workers As Independent Contractors

The Biden administration enacted a new labor rule Tuesday to prevent workers from being misclassified as independent contractors.

The Biden administration enacted a new labor rule on Jan. 9 to prevent employees from being misclassified as independent contractors.

Fortune Magazine reports the rule could boost legal protections and compensation for millions of gig economy workers in the U.S.

App-based platforms, including Lyft, Uber, and DoorDash, are confident the new rule will not force them to reclassify their drivers as full or part-time employees. However, business groups believe the rule will create confusion for employers, and it’s still unclear how the Labor Department will enforce it.

The Labor Department rule replaces a Trump-era standard narrowing the qualification for classifying employees as independent contractors, who are not guaranteed a minimum wage and benefits, including health insurance and paid sick days.

The new rule, which will take effect on March 11, directs employers to use six qualifications to determine whether a worker is an employee or a contractor without predetermining whether one outweighs the other.

The Trump-era rule prioritized two criteria: how much control a company has over its workers and how much “entrepreneurial opportunity” the work provides.

Labor advocates are celebrating the rule, adding that employers have exploited labor rules to misclassify workers to circumvent paying them full wages and giving them benefits. It offers an improved approach to determining whether workers are truly in business for themselves.

In a press briefing, Acting Secretary of Labor Julie Su told reporters that misclassified workers “sometimes work side by side with individuals who are properly classified, doing the same work.”

“But misclassified employees don’t get paid for all of their hours,” Su said. “They’ve seen their economic security eroded because of misclassification.”

According to Fortune, Service Employees International Union President Mary Kay Henry said in a statement that the new rule “takes direct aim” at the practices of corporations like Uber and Lyft that have taken “advantage of misclassifying workers to shirk accountability as employers, avoid paying their fair share and game a system already rigged in their favor.”

The L.A. Times reports the U.S. The Chamber of Commerce is considering challenging the new rule in court. According to the chamber’s Vice President of Workplace Policy, Marc Freedman, the new guidelines make it difficult for companies to know whether they are giving enough importance to any of the six criteria.

“It leaves employers in the dark about whether they made the right decision,” Freedman said. “The only time they can be confident is if they call a worker an employee.”

misdiagnosed, diabetes, aca, affordable care act

by Stacy Jackson

January 10, 2024

Misdiagnosed! Some Black Patients Diagnosed With Type 2 Diabetes May Actually Have A Different Kind Of Diabetes

African Americans are more often misdiagnosed than other minority groups, according one doctor who researches atypical forms of diabetes.

Some Black women believe they have been misdiagnosed for diabetes because of their race. Each woman discovered they had latent autoimmune diabetes of adults (LADA), a form of diabetes often misdiagnosed as Type 2 diabetes, more commonly in African Americans.

A misdiagnosis could be bad news for Black patients because it could cause them to be denied medicines, technologies, and tests to manage their blood sugar. Dr. Jason Gaglia, an endocrinologist at the Joslin Diabetes Center in Boston, told NBC News that nearly 10% of Type 2 diagnoses might actually be LADA.

Mila Clarke, one of Black women with LADA, told Kaiser Family Foundation Health News she believes race played a role in her misdiagnosis.

The now 34-year-old Houston resident was diagnosed with Type 2 when she was 26. It was more than four years before she saw an endocrinologist who told her what she was experiencing sounded like “a classic case of LADA.”

Clarke started a blog in 2016, when she was misdiagnosed, called “Hangry Woman,” sharing nutrition and tips for people living with diabetes. She shared that getting tested for the condition wasn’t easy and that when she learned about continuous glucose monitors that could be used to track her blood sugar, her doctor refused. The unnamed doctor said according to Clarke, “It’s going to be too much information, too much data for you.”

On top of that, the then-blogger voiced that it’s “really hard to vocalize your needs” without coming off as “aggressive” or “disrespectful” as an African American woman.

Professor Phyllisa Deroze also knows the struggle of getting antibodies tests. She was denied by two doctors, according to NBC News. “I just felt unseen,” she said. It was not until she had an attack of diabetic ketoacidosis that she finally got tested.

When she was misdiagnosed, Deroze couldn’t tell if she had diabetes Type 1 or Type 2 from looking at images in a pamphlet she received during a visit to a North Carolina emergency department.

Eight years later, Deroze found out she had LADA. And it was the first time the educator was told diabetes wasn’t her fault, the news outlet noted. By the time a doctor prescribed her insulin and eventually an insulin pump, it had already been a long time coming.

Some doctors think biases about weight, age, and, specifically, race are the reasons for some misdiagnoses. Dr. Rochelle Naylor, a pediatric endocrinologist at the University of Chicago, said to NBC News: “[As] doctors, like any other person walking this planet, we all have implicit biases that impact patient care.” It’s no surprise that African American patients are more often misdiagnosed than other minority groups, according to the doctor who researches atypical forms of diabetes.

A patient’s family history might also lead doctors to misdiagnose Black patients with Type 2 diabetes.

Moreover, LADA progresses slowly and “unmasks itself over time,” according to Dr. Gaglia. This means patients don’t get insulin right away, like those with Type 1 diabetes. But insulin is crucial for survival.

by Cedric 'BIG CED' Thornton

January 10, 2024

Shedeur Sanders Steals Spotlight At National Championship Media Day

The Buffaloes quarterback drew almost as many fans than the two teams that played in the championship.

Shining in the spotlight may come naturally to him because of who his father is, so it may be in the blood. Earlier this week, on Jan. 8, Shedeur Sanders, son of NFL Hall of Famer and Colorado Buffaloes football coach Deion Sanders, attended AT&T’s Media Day at the National Championship. According to Sports Illustrated, the quarterback commanded the attention of the media and the crowd.

In Houston, where the national championship game was played between Michigan Wolverines and Washington Huskies (The Wolverines won by a score of 34-14), people had congregated to take in the atmosphere and the camaraderie of the teams, sponsors, and fans. Yet, for Shedeur’s meet and greet, fans reportedly waited almost an hour to meet him. Although his team had a losing record and didn’t make the playoffs, his presence outshone the players from both teams that made it to the national championship.

🚨 Shedeur Sanders showed up at the College Football Playoff Media Day yesterday, & he completely STOLE THE SHOW 🔥

A video from the CFP Press Conferences showed that a massive line of fans formed for a meet & greet with the Colorado QB…

It’s been reported that the wait time… pic.twitter.com/T1qRpBw1lU

— Blue Bloods Bias (@bluebloodsbias) January 7, 2024

It should also be noted that the Buffaloes starting quarterback grew up in Texas, so it was akin to a homecoming of sorts.

The season may not have played out the way that the Buffaloes’ and anyone following college sports expected, but the team still had a better record than the year’s previous team before Deion became the head coach. The Buffaloes came in last place in the PAC-12 division with an overall record of 4-8, which was better than the previous year’s record, 1-11.

Meanwhile, his stats set a record in his first year at Colorado. The quarterback set a single-season passing mark when he threw for 3,230 yards. He achieved that despite missing the last game due to injury. He also had 31 touchdowns with three interceptions.

When he does return for next season, he is projected to be in the running for the Heisman Trophy, which is given to college football’s best player.

Nneka Onuorah , Amazon, MGM, studios, first look deal, film, The Same Difference, Lizzo's Watch Out For The Big Grrrlz

by Jeroslyn JoVonn

January 10, 2024

Nneka Onuorah Inks First-Look Deal With Amazon MGM Studios

Emmy Award-winning director Nneka Onuorah is proud to announce her first-look deal with Amazon MGM Studios.

Emmy Award-winning director Nneka Onuorah has inked a first-look deal with Amazon MGM Studios.

On Tuesday, Jan. 9, the studio announced its exclusive first-look TV and film deal with “Lizzo’s Watch Out For the Big Grrrls” director, Variety reports. Onuorah, 36, joins Amazon Studios after winning a 2022 Primetime Emmy Award for Outstanding Directing for a Reality Program for her work on Lizzo’s documentary.

“It’s an honor to be a part of the creative fabric of what Jen and her team are building at Amazon,” Onuorah told Deadline.

“I’m proud of the groundbreaking stories that we’re already telling together, and excited to continue my artistic journey into scripted series and films with Amazon as well.”

Amazon cites Onuorah’s award-winning work and notability that ignited following her directorial debut, “The Same Difference,” about gender roles in the Black lesbian community. The Nigerian-American filmmaker, producer, and activist is regarded for her commitment to telling stories that amplify underrepresented communities.

“Nneka has a track record of crafting stories that excite, intrigue, and inspire,” Vernon Sanders, Amazon MGM Studios’ head of television, said. “This is a process we’ve been fortunate to experience firsthand, and we cannot wait to reignite our professional relationship under this formal deal.”

Onuorah further celebrated the new deal after announcing the big news on Instagram.

“Oh you know it’s about to be some amazing ground-breaking stuff coming your way,” she wrote in her caption. “Beyond excited for this partnership with Amazon. The very best is yet to come like you’ve never seen it before.”

View this post on Instagram

A post shared by NNEKA ONUORAH (@nnekaenergy)

Onuorah’s recent directorial work was twice nominated for “Outstanding Documentary” at the GLAAD Media Awards, including 2017’s “The Same Difference” and 2022’s “The Legend of the Underground,” produced by John Legend about Nigerian youth who challenge their country’s discriminatory anti-LGBTQ laws.

The Queens natives’ other credits include Netflix’s prison-themed  “First and Last,” Viceland’s “Black-,” queer-focused  “My House,” and ”The G Word,” produced by Barack and Michelle Obama’s Higher Ground Productions.

by Derek Major

January 10, 2024

President Joe Biden, VP Kamala Harris Make New Pitch To Black Voters In South Carolina

President Joe Biden and Vice President Kamala Harris are in South Carolina making their re-election pitches to Black residents

President Joe Biden and Vice President Kamala Harris have spent the past few days in South Carolina making re-election pitches to Black audiences while also celebrating the Black organizers and community leaders who helped them win the White House in 2020.

The New York Times reported Black voters have been frustrated with the Biden administration for failing to achieve key campaign promises they made.

While in South Carolina, both Biden and Harris have highlighted their administration’s lesser-known victories during their term, arguing that another four years would allow them to achieve even more.

“People don’t understand exactly what role the president has,” said State Senator Tameika Isaac-Devine, who was elected to her Columbia-area seat on Jan. 2. “But when you break down the policy on ‘because of this act, you are able to get dot dot dot,’ I think that is where we have to do a better job.”

The pair brought attention to several key policy points, including a record-low Black unemployment rate and large-scale investments in historically Black colleges and universities, their efforts to reduce student loan debt, and the appointment of a record number of Black judges to the federal bench during his presidency, including Ketanji Brown Jackson.

Additionally, they drew a sharp contrast with former President Donald Trump and far-right Republican leaders who are still denying the 2020 election and are attacking DEI initiatives and more in the name of canceling woke culture.

The events were the first of several the pair will make in the state ahead of the state’s primary election on Feb. 3, according to campaign insiders. Many Black voters in the state were relieved by their presence, believing it’s a sign that the two Democrats are taking their re-election seriously.

Standing in the Emanuel African Methodist Episcopal Church in Charleston, the same church where Dylan Roof shot and killed nine Black people in 2015, Biden condemned the “poison” of white supremacy, adding that it “ripped this nation apart” during the Civil War and Jim Crow eras.

The President continued, saying the United States, is in “an era of the second lost cause” that could bring a return of that same racial violence putting multiracial democracy at stake, and Black voters have an opportunity to salvage it.

Biden still has a bevy of Black figures who are supporting him and Harris, and also gave credit to those in the state that helped boost him to the White House, including South Carolina Representative James Clyburn, who pushed Biden to nominate a Black woman to the Supreme Court.

“We know Joe. But more importantly, Joe knows us,” Clyburn told the congregation of more than 700, according to the Times.

Other Black politicians that have supported President Biden include former Biden senior advisor, Cedric Richmond, and former Atlanta Mayor, Keisha Lance Bottoms.

The Color Purple, Warner Bros.,Critics Choice, pizza, bag,

by Stacy Jackson

January 10, 2024

Warner Bros. ‘Overestimated’ Box Office Numbers for ‘The Color Purple’

The studio faces scrutiny after admitting it "overestimated" the opening weekend box office numbers by over $2 million.

Warner Bros. faces scrutiny after admitting it “overestimated” the opening weekend box office numbers for the recent film adaptation of The Color Purple by more than $2 million.

The American film and entertainment studio originally said that The Color Purple had earned $13.8 million in its debut weekend, World of Reel reported. However, according to the site for alternative movie news, the actual box office gross is around $11.7 million.

Media outlets already reported the inflated numbers before the correction was issued. On. Dec. 26, Deadline reported that the film featuring a star-studded cast of Black actors earned $18 million for its debut. Variety also reported the number, noting on Dec. 27 that the movie almost set a holiday record, “marking the largest Christmas Day opening for a movie since 2009 and the second-biggest Christmas Day opening of all time.”

Critics questioned why Warner Bros. invested $100 million in the big-budget musical that contains difficult subject matter. World of Reel noted that the movie had a $47 million domestic gross by the evening of Jan. 1.

According to the Motion Picture Association, the film contributed more than $74 million to the local economy in greater Atlanta and Savannah, Georgia. The site noted that some of the spending went to crew and cast members on the movie’s production team of more than 2,500 local Georgians.

Despite the “overestimation” by Warner Bros., BLACK ENTERPRISE previously reported The Color Purple landed Danielle Brooks, who played the character Sofia, and singer and actress Fantasia Monique Barrino-Taylor, who played Celie, Golden Globe nominations. Known by her stage name, Fantasia was nominated for Best Actress, a first for the star. Brooks also experienced a first as she was nominated for Best Supporting Actress in a Motion Picture. On Dec. 11, the 2024 Golden Globe nominations were announced, and the show aired on Sunday, Jan. 7.

Jewish, synagogue, tunnel, temple, Eric Adams, NYPD, protestors, officer, New York,

by Sharelle Burt

January 10, 2024

Chaos Erupted After NYPD Discovers Secret Tunnel Inside Brooklyn Synagogue

What exactly was the tunnel used for?

Nine worshippers were arrested on Jan. 8 after NYPD officers uncovered a secret tunnel inside a historic Jewish temple in Brooklyn.

Law enforcement was called to the Chabad-Lubavitch World Headquarters in the Crown Heights neighborhood when a brawl broke out between officers and parishioners defending the passageway. When a cement truck pulled up to fill the previously discovered hole, defenders allegedly stood inside, refusing to move, causing officers to take action. When one protestor was eventually removed, the video shows a group of onlookers begin to shove officers, throwing furniture and tossing scattered prayer books. One officer appeared to set off an irritating spray at the group.

https://twitter.com/nojumper/status/1744788226584236312

Chabad spokesperson Motti Seligson believes a “group of extremist students” secretly broke through the walls of a building behind the headquarters, creating the underground entrance under a group of office buildings and lecture halls to connect to the synagogue. “Those efforts were disrupted by the extremists who broke through the wall of the synagogue, vandalizing the sanctuary, to preserve their unauthorized access,” Seligson said, according to Brooklyn Paper.

All nine men, ranging from ages 19 to 21, face charges of criminal mischief and reckless endangerment, with one facing obstruction of governmental administration charges.

This isn’t the first time authorities had their eye on Chabad. The New York City Fire Department received an anonymous tip regarding the property in December 2023. Spokesperson Amanda Farinacci said the fire prevention team responded on Dec. 20, but the tunnel was undetected, and all exits were operable and up to code. However, two violations were issued, including failing to obtain a certificate of operation and failing to provide access to inspect the sprinkler main shut-off valve during the time of inspection.

The building is currently closed pending a review, which Seligson hopes is expedited. “This is, obviously, deeply distressing to the Lubavitch movement and the Jewish community worldwide,” he said. “We hope and pray to be able to expeditiously restore the sanctity and decorum of this holy place.”

by Lauren Nutall

January 10, 2024

Danielle Brooks And Quinta Brunson Wear Danessa Myricks Beauty On Golden Globes Red Carpet

Some of the industry's biggest stars wore Danessa Myricks Beauty at this year's Golden Globes.

The 81st Golden Globe Awards brought out all the stars, including The Color Purple actress Danielle Brooks, who plays Sofia in the musical adaptation, and Abbott Elementary creator and lead Quinta Brunson, who wore Danessa Myricks Beauty at the event and were nominated in their respective categories.

Makeup guru Danessa Myricks has taken the beauty world by storm since the inception of her eponymous company in 2016. Now, her products are being used by the biggest names in the industry. Brunson donned the Yummy Skin line, including the Glow Serum and its Blurring Balm Powder. Her makeup artist, Kasha Lassien, finished the seamless look using the Groundwork Palette to provide final coverage and shading.

Myricks has had a series of wins lately, having gone on a speaking tour to celebrate her Sephora product launch in 2023. She also recently headlined BLACK ENTERPRISE’s first-ever SistersInc Summit on Dec. 9, where she spoke with BE‘s VP/Deputy Chief Content Officer, Alisa Gumbs, about her journey into the industry. “All of us are inspired by the opportunity to create our own destinies,” she said. “Your commitment is the most important thing throughout the journey. Even when things are really hard, the one thing you really don’t want to give up on is you. Every part of your life’s journey is part of your entrepreneurial journey.”

Myricks has built her platform on inclusivity, using her beauty brand to help women elevate their skills through virtual courses. You can catch the mogul next week for a fireside chat via the SistersInc Virtual Stream on Jan. 17-18, 2024, to discuss life as a businesswoman.

by Cedric 'BIG CED' Thornton

January 10, 2024

Alleged Tupac Shakur Murder Suspect Keefe D Bail Set At $750K

Against prosecutors wishes, a Las Vegas judge has set a bail amount of $750K for Duane "Keffe D" Davis

A judge has set bail for the suspect who is accused of planning the killing of Tupac Shakur. According to ABC News, a Las Vegas judge has set a bail amount of $750,000 for Duane “Keefe D” Davis so he can be placed on house arrest as he awaits trial for his alleged involvement in helping orchestrate Tupac’s killing on Sept. 7, 1996, in Las Vegas.

Prosecutors in the case were against the request for bail because they believed that he had been threatening potential witnesses in the case. Law enforcement officials have stated that the Clark County District Attorney’s Office has started an investigation regarding jailhouse phone calls from Keefe D. They allege that he may have been plotting to harm some witnesses cooperating with the prosecution. Prosecutors stated that Keefe D poses “credible threats to witnesses” and is a “danger to the community.”

His attorneys denied the allegations.

Court documents revealed that some of Keefe D’s phone calls were allegedly focused on witnesses cooperating with the prosecution. A conversation in October with his son was brought to light, alleging an “authorization to kill” was discussed, and based on that conversation, they decided, for the safety of one of their witnesses, to relocate the witness.

“I got something to tell you about some s**t that’s going on,” prosecutors said that Davis’ son told his father on that phone call. “What?” Davis responded. His son said, “Around the city, they talking about it’s a green light on our side,” according to the court filing.

That concern was verified by Las Vegas Sheriff Kevin McMahill when he told ABC News that they are “aware of those allegations, but I’m not going to speak about that.”

When defense attorneys requested bail, they asked that it not exceed $100,00, citing that Keefe D is not a threat to the community or a flight risk. They stated that the prosecutors were misinformed and that he never planned a hit on witnesses, but he was worried because there were rumors that his family was in danger.

He “never threatened anyone during the phone calls,” his attorneys wrote before Tuesday’s bail hearing. They said prosecutors’ interpretation of ‘green light’ is “flat-out wrong” and is an “inflammatory term that will lead people to draw unsupported inferences of wrongdoing.”

Tupac was shot several times in a drive-by shooting in Las Vegas after attending a Mike Tyson fight on Sept. 7, 1996. The beloved yet controversial rapper and actor died six days later on Sept. 13. Keefe D, who wrote the book Compton Street Legend and did many interviews over the years, initially said that the killing of the “Me Against the World” lyricist was done by his nephew, Orlando Anderson, who was killed two years later. Anderson was seen on surveillance video having an altercation with the entertainer before the “All Eyez On Me” emcee died.

IRS Reporting, 1099 k, cash app, Venmo, Zelle, reporting, taxes,

by Rafael Pena

January 10, 2024

IRS Will Enforce 1099-K Reporting Of Cash App, Venmo, Zelle, And PayPal Transactions

In 2024, the IRS is set to enforce the long-anticipated 1099-K reporting requirement for third-party payment apps.

In 2024, the IRS is set to enforce the long-anticipated 1099-K reporting requirement for third-party payment apps, such as PayPal, Venmo, Cash App, or Zelle. Initially slated for 2022, this rule mandates reporting earnings over $600 to the IRS; however, reporting will apply only to income exceeding $5,000 for the upcoming year. According to CNET, the IRS aims to streamline income reporting to ensure more accurate financial disclosures from freelancers and business owners.

This tax reporting shift has experienced delays in allowing payment apps to navigate complexities in distinguishing taxable and non-taxable transactions. This year’s phased rollout requires payment apps to report earnings exceeding $5,000, offering a transitional period to reach the eventual $600 threshold.

For freelancers, the evolving landscape introduces uncertainties regarding tax expectations for the upcoming season. While the reporting requirement was deferred for 2023, freelancers must continue reporting earnings. The impact of this change on 2024 tax returns is noteworthy, with the IRS potentially revisiting the threshold or further delaying the rule.

Popular payment apps like PayPal, Venmo, Zelle, and Cash App will be subject to this IRS rule, necessitating freelancers to consider maintaining separate accounts for professional transactions. Importantly, the IRS clarifies that personal transactions, like gifts or reimbursements from family and friends, remain non-taxable.

For individuals selling personal items via third-party payment apps, transactions below the purchase cost are exempt from taxes. However, those running side hustles with profits exceeding $5,000 are subject to taxation.

As the reporting change looms, payment app users are encouraged to confirm tax information, such as an employer identification number or Social Security number. While the 1099-K simplifies filing for self-employed individuals, maintaining accurate records remains crucial. Freelancers with multiple clients are advised to track earnings systematically, manually, or through accounting software, ensuring a smooth transition into this new tax reporting landscape.